How to set up pure VPS in the most automated way?

Question

linux

From time to time I encounter a problem: I rented a new VPS, I need to update it (yum update), install the necessary min software (like mc nano wget zip unzip), then add an additional user, change the root password, reconfigure sshd, then iptables and so on. While it was once every 6 months - to spend an hour or two or three did not bother. But that's enough. VPS others (i.e. the host is not mine), are rented. There is only one OS: CentOS, different hosters, plus or minus similar configs. How to automate this? Docker? Any post-installation scripts? How can you do?

Answer 1

If VPSs are yours - ansible, if not yours - script. For automatic installation, there is kickstart (RHEL-based) and unattended-install (DEB-based)

Answer 2

Closed, bash scripting is suggested. Many thanks to everyone for the immediate response.